Torenia plant named &#39;Dancatblue&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘Dancatblue’ particularly characterized by the combined features of pale violet-blue petals with violet-blue blotches on the side petals surrounding the corolla, and the lower petal with a centered yellow-green blotch near the base; bush, cascading, vigorous growth habit which maintains a compact, rounded growth habit; densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets; early flowering and year round blooming in moderate climate; suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed:

Torenia sp.

Variety denomination:

‘Dancatblue’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant, botanically known as Torenia sp. of the Scrophulariaceae family,and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dancatblue’.

The new cultivar originated from a cross made in a controlled breedingprogram in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is theTorenia sp. cultivar ‘Blue Moon’ (unpatented). The male parent is anunnamed, unpatented Torenia sp. bush type. ‘Dancatblue’ was discoveredand selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inMoshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by soft tip cuttings was firstperformed in May, 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Dancatblue’ which in combinationdistinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Pale violet-blue petals with violet-blue blotches on the side petalssurrounding the corolla, and the lower petal with a centeredyellow-green blotch near the base;

2. Bush, cascading, vigorous growth habit which maintains a compact,rounded growth habit;

3. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging baskets;

4. Early flowering and year round blooming in moderate climate;

5. Suitable as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade;and

6. Good weather tolerance.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin

comparison to ‘Dancatblue’ is the parental cultivar Torenia sp. ‘BlueMoon’ (unpatented). TABLE 1 Parental and Comparison New CultivarCultivar Torenia sp. ‘Blue Characteristic Torenia sp. ‘Dancatblue’ Moon’(unpatented) Flower color Pale Violet Blue Violet Blue Petal size (cm)1.5 cm width; 3.5 cm width; 2.5 cm length 3.5 cm length Growth habitBush cascading Cascading Flowering time 8 weeks from planting 10 weeksfrom planting

‘Dancatblue’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantlywith variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, andday length without any change in the genotype of the plant. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel under conditionswhich closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical flower and foliagecharacteristics of ‘Dancatblue’ with colors being as true as possiblewith illustrations of this type. The first photograph shows a fullflowering plant of ‘Dancatblue’ in its entirety in a hanging basket. Thesecond photograph shows a close-up of ‘Dancatblue’ flowers showing thepale violet-blue flowers with violet-blue blotches surrounding thecorolla, and the central lobe blotched yellow at the base.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions,which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice.For use as a potted plant, optimal growth conditions include being grownoutdoors in a moderate climate and indoors during the winter season.Irrigation and fertilization is recommended on a regular basis.‘Dancatblue’ is best grown in full sunlight, but partial shade isrequired in mid summer. A fully grown ‘Dancatblue’ plant takes 3 monthsfrom planting a cutting in the summer season. ‘Dancatblue’ bloomsyear-round in moderate climate.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (RHS), except where general colors of ordinary significance areused. Color values were taken under daylight conditions at approximatelynoon in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

The age of the ‘Dancatblue’ plants described is 8 weeks. The‘Dancatblue’ plants described were grown indoors in 16 cm pots in aglass greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, with the daytemperatures ranging from 18° C. to 35° C. and night temperaturesranging from 16° C. to 25° C. Plants of ‘Dancatblue’ were fertilized upto a level of 59 ppm N, 35.4 ppm P and 94.4 ppm K.

-   Propagation: Tissue culture and soft tip cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush cascading.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, rounded.        -   Height.—About 10 cm.        -   Spread.—60-80 cm.        -   Blooming period.—Year round in moderate climate.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender; plants may be damaged by            temperatures below 5° C.        -   Vigor.—Fully grown plant in 3 months during summer season.-   Ste,:    -   -   Color.—Green, RHS 143-A.        -   Length.—30 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.        -   Pubescence.—Minimal.        -   Length of intemodes.—3-4 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape.—Triangular-cordate.        -   Base.—Reniform.        -   Tip.—Acuminate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Green, RHS 137-A Upper side:            Green, RHS 137-A Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-B.        -   Size of leaf.—Width: About 3.5 cm Length: About 4.5 cm.        -   Leaf texture.—Smooth, few hairs on every leaf, less than 0.3            mm long.        -   Petioles: Length: 0. 5 cm to 1 cm Diameter: 1.5 cm Color:            Yellow-Green, RHS 146-B.        -   Venation pattern.—Anastomotic.        -   Venation color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 146-B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate or            greenhouse environment. In Israel, flowering is continuous            from February until November in an outdoor garden.        -   Flowering response.—Less than 2 weeks after planting.        -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing lateral            stems.        -   Number of flowers per lateral stem.—About 4 to 6.        -   Number of flowers per plant.—About 200 to 400.        -   Post production longevity.—Up to 10 months.        -   Lastingness of an individual bloom.—Up to 2 to 4 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Corolla tube cylindrical or often broadened above,            2-lipped, the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower lip            3-lobed.        -   Flower width.—About 2.8 cm.        -   Flower depth.—About 3 cm.        -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused. Length: Upper: About 2.5 cm            Sides: About 1.3 cm Lower: About 1.5 cm Width: Upper: About            1.5 cm Sides: About 1 cm Lower: About 1.3 cm Shape: Upper:            Overall: rounded, Apex: truncate, Base: fused Sides:            Overall: rounded, Apex: truncate, Base: fused Lower:            Overall: rounded, Apex: truncate, Base: fused Margin:            Scalloped Color: Pale violet-blue petals with violet-blue            blotches on side petals surrounding the corolla, and a            yellow-green blotch in middle of lower petal near base.            Mature: Upper Side: Upper petal: violet-blue shades, RHS            97-C and RHS 94-B at apex; side petals: violet-blue blotch,            RHS 96-A; lower petal: yellow-green blotch, RHS 154-A in            middle near base. Under Side: Upper and lower petals: pale            violet-blue, RHS 97-C; side petals: pale violet-blue blotch,            RHS 97-A Margin: Upper petal: violet-blue, RHS 94-B; lower            petal: violet-blue, RHS 96-A Throat: Pale violet-blue, RHS            97-C; in the center of the flower, and yellow-green, RHS            154-A, in middle of lower petal Immature: Upper Side: Upper            petal: violet-blue shades, RHS 97-C and RHS 96-C near apex;            side petals: violet-blue blotch, RHS 96-A; lower petal:            yellow-green blotch, RHS 154-A in middle near base. Under            Side: Upper and lower petals: pale violet-blue, RHS 97-C;            side petals: pale violet-blue blotch, RHS 97-A Margin: Upper            petal: violet-blue, RHS 94-B; lower petal: violet-blue, RHS            96-A Throat: Pale violet-blue, RHS 97-C, in the center of            flower, and yellow-green, RHS 154-A, in middle of lower            petal.        -   Floral tube.—Length: About 2.5 cm Width: About 0.3 cm to 1.4            cm Color: Outside: Pale violet-blue, RHS 97-A, and yellow,            RHS 11-A Inside: Pale violet-blue, RHS 97-A, and yellow, RHS            12-A.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5 Length: About 1.8 cm Width: About 0.8 cm            Shape: Two-lobed, 5 winged Apex: Acute Base: Wedge-shaped            Margin: Undulated Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144A.        -   Peduncle.—Diameter: About 1.2 cm Length: About 0.5 cm to 1.4            cm Color: Green, RHS 143-B        -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoid, 5 winged Size:            Length: About 25 mm Diameter: About 10 mm Color: Apex:            violet-blue, RHS 96A; Base: green, RHS 143-B.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: 2 pairs per flower, fused; color:            violet-blue, RHS 92-D Anther: Length: about 0.4 cm (upper            anther shorter - about 0.3 cm); Width: about 0.1 cm; color:            violet-blue, RHS 92-B Filament: Length: about 1.3 cm (lower            filaments shorter - about 1.4 cm); Width: about 0.5 cm;            color: violet-blue, RHS 92-D Pollen: Amount produced:            sparse; color: white, RHS N155-B.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: One per flower; about 2.3 cm in length            Stigma: Length: about 0.2 cm; width: about 0.2 cm, color:            violet-blue, RHS 92-D Style: Length: about 2 cm; color:            violet-blue, RHS 92-D Ovaries: 1; color: green, RHS 143-B.-   Seed/fruit: None.-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard    preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was    observed.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Dancatblue’, as illustratedand described herein.